This grand east-west artery stretches from the Place de la Concorde past the Louvre and onward toward the Marais and Place de la Bastille. Napoleon commissioned the western stretch in the early 1800s, and the continuous stone arcades along that section give it a distinctive rhythm — uniform arches sheltering shops, bookstores, and tourist tat in roughly equal measure. The architecture is imposing without being showy, all cream limestone and wrought-iron balconies. Walking the full length takes you through several distinct Parisian moods, from imperial grandeur near the Tuileries to the livelier, more local feel as you head east past the Hôtel de Ville.